Valve control por automatic sprinkler systems



Jan. 6, 1931, w. o.. REALS.

VALVE CONTRGL FOR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

original Filed Feb. 17, i921 Reissued Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES A @PATENT oFF-loa 'WILLIS'Q REALS, OF UTICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTO GENERAL FIRE 'EXTING'UISHER COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE'ISLAND, :AfCORPOlalll1\T OFDELATERE? VALVE CONTROL' FOR 'AULOlllIA'lIC` SPRN'LKLERASYS'TEMS Original-No. 1,432,257, dated October 17, 1922, Sera1No.-.44r5-,677, led-Fehruar-ysl'i'; 1921. Applicaticnfi'nr reissue led October 14, 1930. :Serial-No.1488;6-0.

This invention relates to certain improve- `mentsin dry pipe sprinkler systems andrefers morevparticularly to the main valve lfor controlling the flow of the lire extinguishing liquid tosaid system.

IInan apparatus of this character, the Water inletf is normally closed by a valve under air pressure inthe distributing system andremains in: thisiclosed position for an indefinite ai() period of timedepending entirely upon the reduction of the air pressure in the system` by leakage or by the releasing of one or moreof thehsprinkler head valves due to heat in the immediate vicinity thereof in case-ofire.

Under these conditions, particularly after -a long period of the closing of the valve, there'is always more or less liability ofthe valve .adhering lto its seat .by corrosion, ,accumulation of scale and other causes Which may .render the valve-inoperative or .unresponsive and the main object of the inventionis to reduce to a minimum thisypossible contingency and at t-he same time to afford :a "clear passage for the fire extinguishing sures on opposite sides of thev valve.

A further object is .to provide the valve oasefvvith a lateral branch passage extending a sufficient distance to one side of the Water :and air ports to permit the passage of the unattached valve therein and establish an unobstructed passageway for the fire exytinguishing fluid lfrom the Water inlet port to' the distributing system.'

A still'further object is to provide means for guiding the valve from its normally closed position into said chamber and to utilize a portion ofsaid guiding'means'as a 'buffer to, avoid injurious contact of thevalve :with the lWalls of the valve case.

Other objects and Auses relating to the-specifioparts of thevalvemechanism Willbe brought. out in the. 'followingdescription lntheidravvings: i v Figure 1 `lis ,a "longitudinal, vertical, :sectional view of-my invention.

`Eigs .f2..andf3 areYc-'sectionalviews taken in thel planes :of linesQ-Q .and3- '3Fig.l.

As illustrated, the valve caseismadenpof a; series of,.\ in this instance,threeholloWe-sections, .1,2. and f3 forming .a valvelchamber side thereof, the ,port serving as aninlet for Water or .other jre-extinguishing :iuild under .pressure S'from any. suitable source .of supply, While', the port '6is connectedsto."the

pipe:fd-istributirlg system. containing the usual sprink'leifheads and in vvhichairis normally maintained under pressure.` siiiiicent tonormally close the valvefvvhichgcontrols communication between :said c orts. ,Y

.The valvefcase 1`- is provide with a. lateral extension of which the section fforms apart,

sai.d..,extensionfbeing Wholly to Lonesi'deof,

andsbetvveen the 5portsffzandf6 and `forms, a

branch lchamber'of sufficient size., to receive aneunattached valvefStherein v'vhen-opened Without l`bstructingin the I. least the free passageo'f the water'from-fctheport' tothe portl6,ithe.lateral lengthyf- .the :chamberl being:preferablygreater than the vdiameter of thevalve.

,Theadjaeentends of the case sections 1 and.2 .,meetf in'4 approximately theiplane defined byone of the valve seats and are secured,togetherbybolts9 With an interposed v packingor gasket ,10 toprevent leakage.

-The adjacent.; ends of the sections'l; and?) meet in asubstantially vertical .plane some distance to one tside `of theportsand 6 and ,are secured; togetherLbyA bolts 11 with interposed` packings .orgaskets 12..for reducing the liability oflleakage, theouter end of the .section=3 beingfprovided With Aa liandhole 1:3 normally` closed-by .a plate i111: which. is"v held in A. operative j. position t byv bolts 15.

Llhe use of a ball `olspherical valve v-8 is preferable by` reason. of theffactY thatall por tions of itssurface is :available 'for contact Withonesrormore seatsand that it is 'free' to -seat,itselfagainstall,points. of, the valve seat or seats to form a tight-'joint therewith, said ball and its seats being preferably made of aluminum alloy or other non-corrodible material to reduce to a minimum the liability'of adhering oneI to vthe other. 'A pair'ofrings 16 and 17 are mounted in verticallyv spaced relationwithin the lower case section 2 coaxial with the axis Lof the ports 5 and 6to form separate yseats lfor the ball valve 8, whichwhen closed cooperates with the rings 16 and 17 to form an intervening vent chamber 18 having a pipe 19 leading therefrom forconnection with any suitable alarm or signal adapted to be operated by water pressureror air pressure to indicate any leak age of water or air between the valve vand either of the seats 16 and 17, the upper valve l seat coactingwith theball to close communication ybetween the lvent `chamber18,*and air pressure port, while the valve seat 16. cooperates with the ball valve to cut ofcommunication between the vent chamber 18l and water pressure port 5. Y The lower valve seat or ring 16 is prefer-k ably threaded and screwed into al socket in thesection 2 for vertical adjustment if necessary butftheupper valve seat `or ring 17 isV more or less floating in that'it is yieldingly mounted upon a corrugated diaphragm or ring 20, which may be of spring copper and, in this instance form a part of the packing or gasketlO. n l

r i The upper ring or valve seat 17 is of'slightly' less internal diameter than the external diameter of the ball valve 8 so' as to engage theperiphery ofthe ball just below the horizontal diameter' thereof with aV relatively sharp wedging fit whereas the lower ring. or

seat 16 is offconsiderably less internal diams eter than that o f the upper ring 17 to engage l the periphery. of a relatively small segment Lof the ball at the underside thereof with a less degree of wedging action, it being understood that the diameters of the seat engaged by the ball corresponding to the diameter of the segment of said ball at the plane of engagement of the seats therewith, and that thefact that the upper seat is free to yield, enables the ball. to positively engage` both seats under the excess vpressure ofthe air,

acting upon a surface area of the ball considerably greater than that acted upon by the water pressure at the port 5. i As a further means for yieldingly supporting the upper valve seat or ring 17, I provide a series of light coil springs 21 mounted in suitable sockets in the lower case section 2 to exert' upward pressure upon the ring 17 at equally spaced points throughout the circumference of the ring, the tensions of said springs being adjusted by screws 22 which are also mounted in the case section 2 to engage the lower end of the springs.

It is, of course, evident that if the air pressure in the port 6 and chambers 4 and 7 should vbe suddenly relieved, as for example, by the opening of one of the sprinkler head valves due to fire inthe immediate vicinity thereof, then water pressurem in the port 5 would instantly unseatithe valve 8 and force it vinto the`lateral branch chamber 7 with considerable force, and in the absence of any Y' protective means, might batter orotherwise across the inner end ofthe air pressure port 6 andl held in `fixed spaced relation by Vcircumferential tiewires 25 to whichthe adjacentV portions'of the lengthwise WiresA 24 are secured by spot Welding or other `fastening means7 said lengthwise Wires-being locatedv vWithin the circumferential tie-wires 25 vto afford unobstructed runways for the valve in transit from its closed position to its extreme open position at the end of the branch chamber7. p l

vvOne vof thecircumferential tie-wires 25 is disposed in a vertical plane nearly coincident with that `of the meeting faces of thecase seci tions 1 and 2 and is secured by spot welding or-other equivalent fastening means to the gasket 12 which maybe Vmade of copper" or other suitable metal and serves as a means for y holding the cage in fixed relation to the valve 'case except as the wiresmay yield slightly under pressure of the ball in passing from its closed to its open position.

The ends of the lengthwise Wires 24beyond the upright tie-wire 25 converge toward the extreme outer end of the branch chamber 7 around a circle of considerably less diameter than that of the ball to form a series of spring buffers 26 which serve to check the momen'- tum of the ball when'thrown into its eXtreme open position andthereby additionally preserving the ball against impairment by contact with the adjacent end of the valve case.

The lower side orwall of the branch chamber 7 and adjacent portion of the cage 23 eX` tends upwardly from the meeting faces of the case sections 1 and 2 and then returns downwardly and upwardly to form a dash-pot 27 containing a small quantity of water'trapped therein to additionally i protect the ball against impairment by preventing its contact with the 'lower side of thev valve case;

A suitable drain pipe 28 leads from the dash-pot 27 and is provided with a valve 29 which is normally closed but may be opened at will to draw off the Water from the branch chamber 7 whenever desired.

:vanas The joint between the valve 8 and upper v valve seat 17 may'be normally coveredjby a thereby allowing the water pressure to throw the valve from its closed position to its eX- treme open position in the outer end of the chalnber 11 with the assurance that it would reach that position by reason of the guide wires of the cage 23, and at the same time a portion of the water or air or both would be forced under pressure through the pipe 19 of the signal or alarm to indicate the presence of fire or some other abnormal condition which would relieve the air pressure in the pipe system.

It is also evident that if the joint between the valve 8 and either of the seats 16 or 17 should leak, it would allow either the water or air to enter the chamber 18 and pipe 19 and would thereby operate the signal or alarm to warn the attendant that repairs were necessary. In order to remove the ball or cage for repairs or other purposes, it is simply necessary to remove the bolts 11 and case section 3 which would permit the cage 23 to be withdrawn through the adjacent open end of the section 1 after which the ball could alsobe readily removed through the same opening.

Of if desired, the lower case section 2 may be removed by the removal of the bolts 9, thus permitting the valve seats and ball to be withdrawn therewith after which the ball 8 and its valve seats 16 and 17 could be readily removed for repairs such as regrinding.

If necessary, a suitable detent 3-1 may be pivoted to the upper side of the cage 23 or to any other suitable support to normally project into the path of movement of the valve 8, said detent being free to swing in the direction of open movement of the valve to allow the latter to pass beyond the detent to its extreme open position at the outer end of the chamber 7 but is provided with a shoul- 'der 32 for engagement with the adjacent wall of the valve case to hold it against movement in the opposite direction from its normal position and thereby to restrain the open valve from returning to its. seat from any cause until the detent is tripped.

What I claim is:

s 1. A main controlling valve for dry pipe sprinkler system comprising a valve case having opposite coaxial ports and a valve chamber extending wholly to one side of and -`between#said-'iperts, val-veiseatsine spaced fre'- lation adjacent one oftherportsto formaan vintervening ventfcha-mberfandf a i'val'veTr seated `on y'bot-'h :valve f-rseats, ,Y and "normally closing communication:A lbetweenV 'both portsv and the 'ventfeharnber,y one off-:saidvalve `seats'being :movable :relativelyto l the :other valve 1 seatA to ienairlblethel valveto'fseatsnu-gly onrboth seats. 2. A'Armain controlling l:valve -orfdry-fpipe sprinkler vlsystem comprising :1a f'val-ve :case fhaving "opposite :coaxial *lports and 'sa valve chamber"exten'dingfavhollytof-one side ofxand 4betweeni saidii'portsfvalve f seats f in spa-cedere- "ilation adjacent one ofthe'fports to :form-fan l intervening 'vent :tchamben and an Iunatg `tachedvalve@seated; onrrboth valve seats, yand normally "closing -fcomnrunication v.between both ports and the vent chamber, and a cage ffory;guiding:` the valve in,its*move1nent from -he seats finto* thel laterally:4 extending 'chamer.'k A valve mechanisnifor ydry pipe; sprin- -kler system comprisingea valvefcasehavin'g opposite coaxial ports andra valve `"chamber 4extending laterally rfromzisaidportsa :distance:- greaterithanf* the c`liameter of' the valve, fvalvefseatsawvithintlie-gcasefeoaxial with one of said ports; and spacedfi-apartito fformfan iinterveningifvent-chamber,sa passage `leading from saidrent chamber?for'connection -to :a suitable'zalarm, a valve Aengaging bothl -offsaid seats andymovableiinto the` lateral extension 'off-the'-vlvegehamben and a guide cagefor said valve extending into said chamber and having its outer end contracted to form af; buffer lfor'the valve to prevent contact of said valve with the valve case.v v

4. A main controlling valve for dry pipe sprinkler system comprisinga valve case with inlet and outlet ports and a passageway thereg between; valve seats around said passageway in spaced relation to form an intervening vent chamber Van unattached valve adapted to be seated on said seats and thereby close said passageway; a valve chamber extending-tog one side of the passageway adapted to receive said unattached valve when unseated; and means for guiding said valve in its movements from the seats into the said valve chamber. .j

5. A main controlling valve for dry pipe sprinkler system comprising a valve case having an inlet port and an outlet port and a passageway therebetween; valve seats around said passageway in spaced relation to form-v an intervening vent chamber; an unattached valve adapted to be seated on said seats to close communication between both ports and the vent chamber; a valve chamber extending to one side of said passageway adapted toV receive said unattached valve when unseated; and means extending across the passageway between the ports and above the valve seats in position to engage the valve when lifted from its seats and thereby guide said A valve in `its movements romtheseats into the said valve chamber. v

6. A main controlling valve for 'dry pipe sprinkler system vcomprising a valve case hav- ,5 ing an inlet port-andan outlet vport and a .l

passageway therebetween valveseats around said: passageway inv spaced relationyto v form an intervening vent chamber; an unatta'ched l valve adapted to be setedonV said seats to 10 close communication between both ports and the-vent chamber; a valve chamberextending to one side of said passageway adapted to rcceive said unattached valve when unseated';

, `and means vextending from close by one vof .15 the valve seats upward and across the valve case adapted to guide the valve in its movegients from the seats into the said valve cham-- 7. A maincontrolling valve for drypipe 20 sprinkler system comprising a valve case havj ing opposite coaxial ports and a valve chamber extendingwholly `to'one sideof and'between' said ports,` valve seats in spaced relation adjacent one of the ports to forman 25 intervening vent chamber', and an unattached valveseated onboth valve seats,'and nory' mallyclosing communication between both Y ports and the vent chamber, and meansforv p' v guidingthe valve inits movementfrom the .30 seatsintol the laterally extending chamber.`r

In witness whereof Ihave hereunto set my i hand this 1st day of October, 1930. *,f

- v O.'REALS. 

